What sparked your interest in audio engineering?
I actually didn’t know much about audio engineering until I studied at Pyramind [now Music City Accelerator in San Francisco]. We had a class called Audio Fundamentals where we learned everything about how a studio works, patching microphones into preamps, using outboard gear, understanding signal flow, audio converters, and more. That’s where I first realized how much of a difference a good signal recording makes. Tracking my vocals in the school’s studio – especially through a preamp and in isolation – sounded so much better. We had an Avalon channel strip, which gave me my first hands-on experience with analog compression and EQ. At first, I just wanted to learn enough to make better sounding music myself, to understand how to use the studio gear to my advantage. But the more I learned, the more I realized that audio engineering is a whole world of its own. But it wasn’t until I started working at Sonic Ranch that I fully grasped what being an audio engineer really means. I came to understand that it’s not just about gear. It’s a craft; a creative and technical role in its own right. The deeper I dive into it, the more fascinating it becomes. Audio truly is a deep well.
Did you intern or work at studios in Mexico City?
I did some brief work at a friend’s studio, mostly recording live sessions and working on music for ads. I haven’t had the chance to do sessions in the major studios in Mexico City, but I’d love to. Last year, I had the opportunity to visit several of them and meet the people who work there, mostly through connections I made at Sonic Ranch. It’s interesting how interconnected the audio world is. Everyone seems to know someone you know. It’s inspiring to be part of this community where you’re constantly meeting people who are involved in all these exciting projects.
What was going on musically in Mexico City when you were learning the craft? Did you have mentors there?
When I was in college, I had a band with some friends, and we started making demos on Ableton Live. That’s when I really got into music and composing. I was fascinated by how powerful a DAW can be; there are so many underrated tools at your fingertips. I dove deep into all the built-in soft synths and effects, experimenting and learning as I went. I remember taking an online Ableton class taught by a musician who played keyboards for St. Vincent [Tape Op #134]. He was in charge of triggering all the MIDI sequences during her shows, and through that course I learned how to do things like dummy clips, tempo changes, and preset switches for our live gigs. Funny enough, years later I met Rachel Eckroth, St. Vincent’s current keyboardist, when we recorded her solo record [The Garden] at Sonic Ranch. It felt like things had come full circle. Having mentors is great, and I really value those relationships, but there’s also something special about figuring things out on your own with your friends. There’s no one telling you what’s right or wrong, so it stays positive and exploratory. And since you’re not doing it for money, it’s all driven by passion, which, honestly, is the best motivation there is.
You received a scholarship to Pyramind. Had you applied to multiple programs in U.S. or abroad?
I had never applied to anything on my own before. My previous band once won a contest that gave us the chance to record an EP at a nice studio, but the Pyramind scholarship was the first time I applied for something solo. Honestly, I didn’t expect much from it. I had been following Pyramind’s YouTube channel for a while. Matt Donner, one of the founders, had these incredible instructional videos on music theory, arrangement, and rhythm. I watched them all the time and learned a lot. One day, they posted a video announcing a scholarship contest for their Electronic Music Producer Program at the San Francisco campus. The winner got a full year tuition free. To apply, you had to submit one of your original productions along with a video explaining why you deserved the scholarship. I decided to go for it and sent in one of my songs. Somehow, out of all the applicants, I was selected. I packed my bags and started a whole new adventure in San Francisco. I hadn’t applied to any other programs in the U.S. or abroad. This one just felt right, and I’m really grateful it worked out.
How did you later end up at Sonic Ranch?
